The Last Word: J-Hud On Sex and the City, Ike On Reality TV, and Chris Brown on the VMA’s

What’s good folks. Another week gone by as I’m glad to see the weekend. Although it seemed slow, it was an active five days that saw Pres. Bush pledging to bring some of the troops out of Iraq, Greg Oden missing his entire rookie season, and 50 Cent and Kanye West bringing back the spirit […]

What’s good folks. Another week gone by as I’m glad to see the weekend. Although it seemed slow, it was an active five days that saw Pres. Bush pledging to bring some of the troops out of Iraq, Greg Oden missing his entire rookie season, and 50 Cent and Kanye West bringing back the spirit of competition in Hip-Hop with their album sales battle.Shout outs to the sounding boards as they continue to sound off on what’s good.So here we go with…the Last Word for the week ending Sept. 14, 2007 1. Chico DeBarge Joins Brother El in Jail Apparently having one DeBarge in jail at a time wasn’t enough. Now Chico DeBarge wants to follow his big brother El to the slammer…again.EURweb.com reports that the 41-year-old crooner (born Jonathan Arthur DeBarge) was taken into custody on Aug. 30 on suspicion of having illegal drugs and cash in his car. Police were drawn to Chico after spotting him on a Los Angeles highway switching seats with a female companion in his Toyota. An officer reportedly found illegal drugs and cash after pulling the couple over. The arrest came four days after El Debarge was brought in on suspicion of domestic violence. Although Chico is being held on $30,000 bail, El is being held without bail because of two previous warrants for his arrest in narcotics cases. If Chico serves time, this will be his second prison sentence, as he was released from jail in the ’90s after serving time for a similar charge.  Somehow, I see more than a few jailhouse remixes lined up for these guys. Nothing drastic. Just modified versions of DeBarge hits like “Rhythm of the Night” (“Rhythm of the High”), “All This Love” (“All These Drugs”), “Who’s Holding Donna Now” (“Who Got the Pipe Right Now”) and “Love Me in a Special Way” (“Strung Out in a Special Way”). 2. Maxwell Resurfaces With New Song; CD Due Next Year As D’Angelo puts in private appearances at a courthouse near you, Maxwell is coming out of hibernation to give fans something new to hear.  Billboard.com reports that the singer uploaded a new song on his MySpace site. The track, titled “Pretty Wings,” is reportedly set to appear on Maxwell’s forthcoming album Black Summer’s Night. The new release will be the follow up to the crooner’s 2001 album Now. Black Summer’s Night was originally slated to hit stores in February, but according to Kyambo “Hip-Hop” Joshua, an urban music executive at New Columbia, the album will instead arrive next year.  “Maxwell’s still working with Sade’s band, his tried-and-true team. He took some time off and now he’s ready,” Joshua told Billboard. “He’s recorded so much material that he’s got a couple of albums done,” So, he might be going out on the road touring for this album soon. I won’t say the album will drop first-quarter 2008, but [next] summer sounds good.” While I’m happy that Maxwell is giving us a taste of new music, I can’t help but be a little suspicious. With all this waiting, I’m started to think he’s becoming the Dr. Dre of soul music. Too many years gone by and no new album. 3. New Ike Turner Reality Show in the Works Ike Turner may have had some wild times with his famous ex-wife Tina Turner, but the 75-year-old music pioneer has found a new apple of his eye.  And he wants you to share in all of his ups and downs with her in a new reality TV show. That’s right. Mr. Turner is planning to make a dollar or two off the series, which will offer viewers a glimpse at Turner’s relationship with Audrey Madison, his other ex-wife. That is, if it gets picked up. Keep in mind that Madison is the background singer that Turner claimed tried to kill him with a prescription pill overdose. But I guess, they kissed and made up because WENN reports that the couple is back together and working on their relationship while planning a tour of Europe.  And if you’re asking if this go around will last longer (and be potentially less fatal) than their previous run, you only need to talk to their friends. They believe that Turner and his current flame will be together forever, because she’s the only woman who is “wilder than he is.”  “He’s been used to marrying groupies he could control,” one source told WENN. OK. I know this may sound like a rip-off of Being Bobby Brown, but I think Ike may be more entertaining. After all, he was the one who paved the way for the Don’t Be Cruel singer’s bad boy ways.  So let’s start up a petition to get the show on the air. Anybody got a title in mind? My boy Ant suggests Flavor of the Fist with a spin-off series titled I Love Nutbush or Just Eat The Cake. What do you think? 4. Mary J. Blige, and Luther Vandross Make Beautiful Music With Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is getting a little help from her friends, as she gears up for the release of her new album Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen.  The release, which will hit stores Nov. 13, will feature appearances from Mary J. Blige (“Don’t Waste My Time,” and “Never Gonna Break My Faith”); Mariah Carey (“Chain of Fools”); John Legend (“What Y’All Came to Do”); and Whitney Houston (“It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be”).  Former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino will join Franklin on the lead single from the album,”Put You Up on Game.” In addition, Jewels in the Crown will enlist Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards for a version of the band’s#### “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” as well as a little help from gone but not forgotten singers Frank Sinatra on “What Now My Love” and Luther Vandross on “Doctor’s Orders. ”  5. Jennifer Hudson Nabs Sex and the City Movie Role After winning an Oscar for her killer performance in Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson is getting set to roll with a new set of females with a role in New Line Cinema’s Sex and the City: The Movie.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hudson will play “Louise,” the assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Carrie Bradshaw.” The addition of the singer/actress is the latest news pertaining to the film, which will reunite Parker with her Sex and the City castmates Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Chris Noth.  Sex and the City: The Movie, the Reporter stated, will revisit the quartet four years after the popular HBO series ended its run on the small screen. The movie, which begins filming next week in New York, won’t be the only thing on Hudson’s plate as she continues work on her debut Arista Records album. That project is scheduled to hit stores in the first quarter of 2008. 6. Chris Brown Does What Britney Should’ve Done at the VMAs Although Britney Spears drew the most conversation with how she came off during the VMAs, Chris Brown should be commended on amazing the crowd with a full-out assault, as he tirelessly danced while singing his hits “Wall to Wall” and “Kiss Kiss,” not to mention bringing Rihanna on stage for a performance of her smash “Umbrella.” And throw in the Michael Jackson tribute, and it was clear that Brown truly became that dude.  In fact, the 18-year-old crooner reminded Justin Timberlake just how time has caught up with him as the former ‘NSync member publicly acknowledged Brown’s show-stopping set while accepting the VMA for Male Artist of the Year. “Nobody likes to be reminded that they’re getting older,” said Timberlake. “And whatever Chris Brown just did, reminded me how much I’m getting older, ’cause damn.” And if that wasn’t enough, Brown earned kudos from the King of Pop himself.  “Chris is a bright and shining star whom I enjoy watching perform,” Jackson said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “I am happy to have had a positive influence on him.” Nuff said. 7. Beyonce and Kelly Rowland Invest in Apartment Complex As victims of Hurricane Katrina continue to bounce back from the hurricane’s devastation, they are receiving aid from Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland.  According to EURweb.com, the Destiny Child members, along with Beyonce’s parents Mathew and Tina Knowles, have come together to announce the “Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments,” a 43-unit, single room occupancy supportive housing facility for at-risk populations in the Houston area.  The $4 million supportive housing facility, which received final funding for construction last month from Temenos CDC, is designed for at-risk populations to provide permanent living accommodations for women and men who are taking significant steps in improving their lives after the traumatic effects of personal and natural disasters.  The Knowles and Rowland have pledged $1 million to the project, which also received support from Wal-Mart, American Express, Giorgio Armani and L’oreal. In addition to the “Knowles-Rowland Temenos Place Apartments” is a $ 1.2 million Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth will be located along the same block. The center is a multipurpose recreational complex for youth and a youth HIV education and risk reduction program called “Breaking The Silence.” 8. Shakira Gets Educated at UCLA Shakira may know a thing or two about music, but the Colombian singer is learning about a different subject while attending classes at the University of California, Los Angeles.  According to Peopleenespanol.com, Shakira is taking a courses on the History of Western Civilization with professor Robert Cleve, who has his doctorate in the subject. “While everyone else has been at the beach, the MTV Awards and the Emmys, Shakira’s been studying History of Western Civilization all summer at UCLA,” a source told Peopleenespanol.com.  Hooray for higher education! I’m putting in for my transfer to UCLA.9. Tito and the Family Denies Michael Jackson Intervention Rumors The long arm of the law may have split up the DeBarge family, but the Jacksons stand united as they lashed out at rumors they held an intervention for Michael.  The intervention, according to media reports, was held to address the pop icon’s alleged dependency on painkillers and alcohol. In an open letter signed by Michael’s mother Katherine Jackson and his brothers Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie, the Jacksons go on the record by saying they “categorically deny ever planning, participating in, or having knowledge of any kind of intervention, whatsoever. We strongly believe that these ‘sources’ and others, no matter who they are, are making these defamatory, inaccurate, and untrue claims for monetary reasons. Michael Jackson and the Jackson family have endured years of false accusations and misrepresentations. It is time for these unfair and hurtful rumors for profit to end.” It is true the Jacksons have put up with a lot. No question. But can someone explain why Tito hasn’t come out with that long awaited Hip-Hop/blues solo album It’s T.I.T.O. B***h!? Just wondering.